Children's Therapy Center, Co.

Children's Therapy Center, Co. Welcome to Children's Therapy Center, Co.'s [formerly Almaden Valley Children's Therapy Center]!

“Neurodiversity-affirming care” has become a phrase that many people have heard, but not everyone knows what it actually...
08/18/2026

“Neurodiversity-affirming care” has become a phrase that many people have heard, but not everyone knows what it actually means.

At its core, it means recognizing that neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and many other ways of thinking, learning, communicating, and experiencing the world, are natural variations of the human experience. Rather than trying to make children appear more “typical,” we seek to understand who they are, how they experience the world, and what support will help them thrive.

This does not mean we ignore challenges or lower expectations. Children may still need support with regulation, daily living skills, motor development, social participation, executive functioning, or other areas that are making everyday life difficult.

The difference is how we provide that support.

Our goal is never to change who a child is. Our goal is to remove barriers, build on strengths, and create environments where they can participate more fully and confidently in the activities that matter most to them.

To us, neurodiversity-affirming care means leading with curiosity instead of judgment, connection instead of compliance, and understanding instead of assumptions.

We believe every child deserves to be supported in a way that honors who they are.

Have questions about neurodiversity-affirming care? We’d love to hear them. Leave them in the comments, and they may become a future FAQ.

A space designed with kids in mind, but not filled with more than their nervous systems need. 🤍Room to move.Room to expl...
08/17/2026

A space designed with kids in mind, but not filled with more than their nervous systems need. 🤍

Room to move.
Room to explore.
Room to regulate.
Room to connect.

We believe the environment is part of pediatric occupational therapy, too. Thoughtful spaces can invite movement and play while still giving children a place that feels calm, predictable and safe.

That balance has always mattered to us.

pediatric occupational therapy, sensory processing, sensory gym, child development, neurodiversity affirming OT, Carmel Valley, Monterey County

August Sensory Storytime might have been our busiest one yet! 🤍We are always blown away by how many families show up to ...
08/16/2026

August Sensory Storytime might have been our busiest one yet! 🤍

We are always blown away by how many families show up to spend their morning with us, but even more than that, it’s the connections and joy in the room that make these mornings so special.

The activities were a hit, there was plenty of sensory exploration, movement and play, and we loved watching little ones explore at their own pace while parents connected with one another.

This is exactly what we hoped Sensory Storytime would become: a welcoming place for children to play and explore, families to connect, and our community to come together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for another very full and very fun morning. We already can’t wait for the next one!

Sensory Storytime, pediatric occupational therapy, sensory play, toddler activities, baby activities, Carmel Valley, Monterey County, Carmel kids, Monterey families

Finding the right OT job isn’t just about finding a place that’s hiring. It’s about figuring out what will allow you to ...
08/15/2026

Finding the right OT job isn’t just about finding a place that’s hiring. It’s about figuring out what will allow you to actually enjoy your work and build a career that feels sustainable.

5 things to think about when looking for your next OT job:

1. Know what matters most to you.
Is it mentorship? Flexibility? Compensation? Benefits? Clinical growth? Work-life balance? There probably isn’t one job that checks every box, so know which ones are non-negotiable for you.
2. Look beyond the hourly rate.
Ask how documentation, meetings, cancellations, planning, training and other non-billable time are compensated. A higher treatment rate doesn’t always mean higher overall pay.
3. Ask what your actual day will look like.
How many clients will you see? Are there breaks? When do you document? How much control do you have over your schedule? And importantly, is there time built into your schedule to collaborate with other members of your team, or is collaboration something you’re expected to squeeze in between clients?
4. Pay attention to the support you’ll receive.
Especially as a new grad, “mentorship provided” can mean very different things. Ask who will mentor you, how often you’ll meet, whether that time is protected and what support looks like when you have a challenging case or simply need another perspective.
5. Think about the OT you want to become.
Look for a workplace where the clinical philosophy, population and opportunities for learning align with the kind of therapist you hope to be a few years from now.

There is no universally “best” OT job. The right job is the one that fits what matters most to you in this season of your career.

Save this for your next OT job search or send it to an OT who is figuring out their next move.

pediatric occupational therapy, occupational therapy jobs, OT new grad, pediatric OT jobs, occupational therapist career, OT mentorship, occupational therapy

Sensory play for babies does not need to be complicated. 🤍Their everyday world is already full of opportunities to touch...
08/14/2026

Sensory play for babies does not need to be complicated. 🤍

Their everyday world is already full of opportunities to touch, taste, move, listen, look and explore.

A few simple ideas to try:
• Splashing in a shallow bin of water
• Crawling barefoot through the grass
• Squishing and smearing yogurt during mealtime
• Crawling over couch cushions
• Exploring warm and cool washcloths
• Banging wooden spoons on different surfaces
• Touching leaves, flowers and tree bark outside
• Dancing, bouncing and moving to music

The goal isn’t to expose your baby to every possible sensory experience or turn their wake windows into therapy. It’s simply to give them opportunities to safely explore their body and their world, then follow their lead.

Save this for your next “what should we do today?” moment.

pediatric occupational therapy, baby sensory play, infant development, sensory activities for babies, tummy time, motor development, baby play ideas

One of the most common misconceptions we hear is that school-based OT and private OT are the same. While they may look s...
08/13/2026

One of the most common misconceptions we hear is that school-based OT and private OT are the same. While they may look similar on the surface, they actually serve different purposes.

School-based OT is designed to help a student access their education. Therapy is provided only when occupational therapy is necessary for the child to benefit from their educational program. Goals are tied to school participation, such as handwriting, classroom routines, using school materials, or other skills that impact learning within the school environment.

Private OT takes a broader view. We look at the whole child and how they participate across all areas of life, not just at school. That might include emotional regulation, sensory processing, self-care skills like dressing or toothbrushing, feeding, play, sleep, executive functioning, motor development, family routines, community participation, and more.

Neither model is better..they simply have different roles. In fact, many children benefit from both because each addresses different needs and perspectives.

Our goal isn’t just to help children succeed in one environment. It’s to help them participate more fully in the everyday activities that matter most to them and their families.

Have another OT question? Leave it in the comments—we may answer it in a future FAQ.

Some of the best ideas I’ve ever brought into the clinic didn’t come from a textbook. They came from conversations with ...
08/07/2026

Some of the best ideas I’ve ever brought into the clinic didn’t come from a textbook. They came from conversations with other pediatric occupational therapists.

If you’re a pediatric OT in the Monterey Bay or Bay Area, we’d love to have you join us for this month’s OT Network + Connect.

This month we’re talking all about Parent & Educator Coaching/Consultation.

Together we’ll discuss:
• Building parent confidence
• Collaborating with educators
• Challenging cases and clinical questions
• Evaluation and treatment approaches
• Favorite books, courses, and resources

Whether you’re new to parent coaching or it’s already a central part of your practice, you’ll leave with new ideas, practical strategies, and connections with other local pediatric OTs who understand the work you do every day.

📅 Thursday, August 13
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
💻 Virtual

We’d love to continue building a supportive community of pediatric occupational therapists across the Monterey Bay and Bay Area. Hope to see you there!

Keywords: pediatric occupational therapy, pediatric OT, Monterey Bay occupational therapist, Bay Area occupational therapist, California pediatric OT, parent coaching, caregiver coaching, educator collaboration, neurodiversity affirming care, pediatric therapy, family-centered care, occupational therapy mentorship, pediatric OT community

Back-to-school season is here! 🍎📚New classrooms, routines, expectations, sounds, people, and transitions can be exciting...
08/06/2026

Back-to-school season is here! 🍎📚

New classrooms, routines, expectations, sounds, people, and transitions can be exciting, but they can also be a lot for a child’s nervous system to take in. As everyone settles into the new school year, remember that connection, predictability, movement, and patience can go a long way.

Here’s to a year filled with curiosity, growth, and plenty of support along the way! 💚

One of the first questions many families ask is, “How long will my child be in occupational therapy?”It’s a completely u...
08/05/2026

One of the first questions many families ask is, “How long will my child be in occupational therapy?”

It’s a completely understandable question but it doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer.

Just as every child develops differently, every therapy journey is unique. Some children may benefit from a shorter episode of care focused on a specific goal, while others may benefit from ongoing support as they grow and face new challenges and expectations.

At Children’s Therapy Center, we don’t believe in keeping children in therapy simply because they’ve always been in therapy. We regularly revisit goals, evaluate progress, and have honest conversations with families about what makes the most sense moving forward.

Sometimes that means continuing therapy. Sometimes it means decreasing frequency. Sometimes it means taking a break. And sometimes it means celebrating that a child is ready to graduate.

Our recommendations are always guided by one question:

“What is in this child’s best interest right now?”

That philosophy helps ensure therapy remains purposeful, meaningful, and individualized every step of the way.

Have another question about pediatric occupational therapy? Leave it in the comments. We’d love to answer it in a future FAQ.

Address

6501 Crown Boulevard, Suite 100A
San Jose, CA
95120

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14086010993

Website

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